Press freedom at risk as EU struggles to match action with values

The European Union strives to be a global leader in press freedom but faces challenges from member states that have criminal defamation and blasphemy laws, and have introduced counterterrorism measures, including mass surveillance. The EU has made press freedom imperative in negotiating with candidate countries, but has been accused of failing to take strong action when member states renege on their press freedom commitments. Journalists working in the region are also affected by EU laws and policies, such as the trade secrets directive and access to information regulations. A special report by the Committee to Protect Journalists

Summary

The European Union describes itself as a model for press freedom and an exemplary global power. Although many of its 28 member states feature at the top of international press freedom rankings, there are significant challenges that undermine press freedom and new threats are emerging.

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With his sights set firmly on integration
with Russia, President Alexander Lukashenko has intensified his efforts
to stifle the independent and opposition media in Belarus. In the days
surrounding the April 2 signing in Moscow of the second treaty on
integration with Russia in two years, Lukashenko reached new heights,
even by his own standards, in his campaign to silence critics and
intimidate j